The first three weeks after whelping are when metritis, mastitis, and eclampsia tend to show up. Here is how to watch a postpartum dam's recovery day by day, what counts as normal, and the trends that tell you when to call your vet.
Category: Kitten Care
Uncover the foundations of comprehensive kitten care, from nutritional needs to health checks and preventive care. This section equips breeders and new cat owners with the essentials for raising healthy kittens ready to thrive in their new homes.
What Sows Teach Breeders About Maternal Probiotics and Colostrum
What sow research teaches dog and cat breeders about maternal probiotics, colostrum, and the first 24 hours after whelping or queening.
Colostrum Secrets: Boosting Puppy and Kitten Immunity
A puppy or kitten is born almost agammaglobulinemic. Ninety percent of immune cover arrives through colostrum in the first 24 hours, with peak absorption at 4 hours and the gut mostly closed by 12 to 16. New science on microbiome seeding, S. boulardii CNCM I-1079, and the action ladder for a neonate who cannot suckle.
Probiotics for Newborn Puppies and Kittens: Lessons from Human Neonatal Medicine
Human NICU probiotic medicine has matured around one transformation: pick the strain, not the category. Same genus, different strain, very different result. Here is what the 2023 European position paper and the 2023 FDA alert could mean for puppies and kittens, eventually.
How Do You Set Up a Whelping Box That Actually Protects Newborn Puppies and Kittens?
The 5-point whelping box audit every breeder should run before a litter. Why most setups fail on system design, not equipment.
How Do I Prevent Neonatal Isoerythrolysis in Kittens?
Neonatal isoerythrolysis kills kittens when a Type B queen's colostrum antibodies destroy Type A kittens' red blood cells. Blood typing before mating and 24-hour colostrum management prevent it entirely.
How Does Gut Colonization Shape Your Kitten’s Health?
The first 72 hours shape a kitten's entire microbiome. C-section, antibiotics, and early weaning can derail it. Here is what actually protects gut colonization.
How to Resuscitate Newborn Puppies and Kittens
The 2025 RECOVER guidelines just flipped neonatal resuscitation on its head. What you learned about airway clearance? It's time to unlearn it.
Are Your Puppies and Kittens Ready for Weaning?
Discover the 3 physical signs and 6 assessment tools that reveal when your puppies and kittens are truly ready for weaning—beyond calendar dates.
Is Your C-Section Litter Missing Microbiome Protection?
Give your C-section litters a healthier start. Learn how microbiome transfer impacts growth and immunity—and discover practical, science-backed steps to optimize it in puppies and kittens.
DR. EMMANUEL FONTAINE 